By Janis Mork

March 15, 2013 (Santee) - At Wednesday’s city council meeting, the council was informed of a Santee Public Art Sub-Committee under the Santee Park and Recreation Committee. Community services director Bill Maertz explained that the new sub-committee hopes to have public art projects and paintings among other things to promote works of art, such as depictions of nature. “We’re looking at proceeds from the Bluegrass Festival, volunteer painters, and donations from public” along with anyone else who may offer their skills and expertise, he said.

January 29, 2013 (San Diego) -- Today, the City Council met in Closed Session to address civil enforcement actions that were filed against marijuana dispensary operators and property owners to compel compliance with the City’s zoning laws.

On a unanimous vote (with Councilmember Faulconer absent) and with agreement by the Mayor, the Council directed the City Attorney not to dismiss the cases. In order to preserve the status quo, the current zoning laws will be enforced. Dispensaries should not open in violation of existing laws.

The market will be held on Thursdays downtown starting March 21

By Janis Mork

January 30, 2013 (El Cajon) - Following approval at Tuesday’s January 22^nd City Council meeting, the City of El Cajon will now have its own farmers’ market in the downtown area. The City is working with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and others to establish a certified farmers’ market on Thursday evenings, beginning March 21, at the Prescott Promenade, located at 201 East Main Street in downtown El Cajon. 

November 20, 2012  --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

STATE

• California’s deficit shrinks to $1.9 billion (San Francisco Chronicle)
• California job growth drops jobless rate to 10.1% (Sacramento Bee)
• Proposed wind farm near Joshua Tree National Monument cancelled (Rewire)
• California moves full speed ahead with health care exchange  (Sacramento Bee)
• Study: California refineries operated during periods blamed for gas spikes (McClatchy News)
• New CSU Chancellor requests 10% pay cut (Sacramento Bee)
• Jerry Brown tells University of California to ‘get more grounded’ (Sacramento Bee)
• Cailfornia’s new parks director vows ‘absolute integrity’ (Sacramento Bee)

LOCAL

• El Cajon city councilman’s home is target of pre-election day shooting (East County Californian)
• San Diego County Sheriff refuses to release drone documents (MuckRock News)
• Lawsuit could threaten San Diego water supplies (U-T San Diego)
• Foreclosure registry measure passes in San Diego (U-T San Diego)
• An evening of pot and pot shots (La Mesa Today)
• Pot dispensaries headed for La Mesa ballot (U-T San Diego)
• City Council OKs 5-Story Apartment Complex at Town Center RiverView  (Santee Patch)
• Hospice threatened by Medicare audit (U-T San Diego)
• Dueling groups rally for Israelis, Palestinians (U-T San Diego)
• Where did Obama, Romney do best in the county? (U-T San Diego, interactive precinct map)
• Former Rep. Hunter supports work ethic of BP agent who killed woman (10 News)
• Lakeside youth goes from a coma onto the stage (UT-San Diego)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

October 31, 2012 (El Cajon)—  At the October 23rd Council meeting, Councilmember Wells proposed that the El Cajon City Council authorize the City Manager to expend General Fund revenues as a 50 percent match with the dealerships for the costs of creating an “El Cajon Auto Dealership Association,” not to exceed the amount of $10,000. 

The City Council voted 4-0 to support this new partnership.

October 23, 2012 (San Diego)--Members of San Diegans for Managed Growth (SDMG), the original sponsor of the 1985 Managed Growth Initiative, were joined on Sunday by representatives of the League of Women Voters (LWV), Protect San Dieguito River Valley (PSDRV) and other organizations in calling on the Mayor, City Attorney and the City Council to enforce the initiative’s requirement for voter approval of urban development in certain agriculturally zoned open space areas of the City referred to as “Proposition A Lands” in the City General Plan.  

By Bonnie B. Price

October 2, 2012 (El Cajon)--As campaign season draws nearer to the November 6 election, contenders for the three city council seats are having a strange type of conflict in the wonderland of El Cajon campaign politics.  Issues such as the highest sales tax in the county and high sewer taxes* in the poorest city in the county are not being discussed. 

Instead, people have been distracted from these significant issues with a battle over political sign locations! 

By Miriam Raftery

September 11, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Lily Schorm, a teacher, learned some lessons while attending El Cajon City Council meetings. Now she’s among seven candidates running for three Council seats in November.

“It’s illegal to have chickens in El Cajon,” says Schworm, in an exclusive interview with ECM.  She has been working to persuade the City Council to legalize chicken ownership.  During that process, she saw Council  approve expenditures that she considered wasteful.

September 6, 2012  --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• La Mesa-Spring Valley schools face cuts of $12.5 million  if tax vote fails (La Mesa Patch)
• Wages in San Diego not rising fast enough (UT San Diego)
• La Mesa City Council Candidates (La Mesa Courier)
• 10 privatization fact checks (Voice of San Diego)
• 21 homes red-tagged: What to expect from classic Brawley earthquake swarm  (NBC)
• Recruiting allegations haunt Helix, defending state football champions (Mt. Helix Patch.com)

STATE

• California jobs picture brightens (Sacramento Bee)
• Gov. Brown promotes Prop 30, warns of devastating cuts to education if it fails (Santee Patch)
• Most tax deals die as GOP stands united (UT San Diego)
• Self-driving cars approved by California legislature (CNBC)
• California way behind Germany in solar development (KCET)
• Three races could tip the balance of power in state Legislature (Sacramento Bee)
• U.S. Chamber launches ad attacking California budget, economy (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

 
February 6, 2012 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Centennial kicks off on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 from 3:00–3:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Blvd. Trolley Station, where the City Council and Centennial donors will ride a specially wrapped La Mesa Centennial trolley to the Trolley Station.  You will be able to remember the event with a free Centennial keepsake that will be given away at the unveiling.

 
February 3, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:   

• Does new County land use plan go too far? (San Diego U-T)
• State realignment floods county jails and probation departments (KPBS)
• Sheriff reduces jail time for inmates to avoid overcrowding (La Mesa Patch)
• City Council meeting Tuesday: With redevelopment gone, now what? (Santee Patch)
• Santee gets another ‘F’ in state of tobacco report(Santee Patch)
• Beating Briarcrest: How La Mesa attorneys saved city $10.5 million (La Mesa Patch)
• Student protester faces stiff sanctions (Daily Aztec)
• New playground coming to Lake Murray (San Diego U-T)
•  Helix community garden vote again delayed again by board, dismaying backers (La Mesa Patch)
• California Health Dept. cites smart meter health risks in report (La Mesa Patch blog by Susan Brinchman)
• Ramona Water District engineering consultant fees goes up 67% (Ramona Patch) 

• Controller: State to run out of cash in March with no action (Sacramento Bee)
• Caltrans sidesteps accountability (Sacramento Bee editorial)
• California lawmakers move to limit protests at funerals (Reuters)
• High court overturns CA slaughterhouse law (PBS)
• Los Angeles judge blocks state cuts to Medi-cal providers (Sacramento Bee)

 
January 29, 2012 (La Mesa)--In an on-going commitment to communicating with residents and in honor of the City’s Centennial, all five members of the La Mesa City Council will host a Town Hall Meeting. The open-forum session is set for Tuesday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa. 

By Dennis Moore